Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan has died in what authorities are calling an "accidental shooting." He was 19. The tragic news comes one day after Jordan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Jordan had a breakout season for Utes. He was named the starter by the team's third game and carried the ball 83 times, rushing for 597 yards with six touchdowns in five games.
Authorities in Denton, Texas, responded to a shooting call on Friday (December 25) night and found Jordan had been shot one time. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
While officials have not provided many details about the shooting, Denton Police Department public information officer Allison Beckwith told ESPN it appears that Jordan "accidentally shot himself."
"Words cannot express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling right now upon learning of the tragic death of our teammate and brother, Ty Jordan," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. "Ty's personality and smile were infectious, and he made a huge impact on our program in the short time he was with us. He leaves an indelible mark on each of us, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us in the Utah Football Family want to say we love you, Ty, and may you rest in peace."